Anti-government protesters in the Chaeng Watthana area have yet to specify their new rally site after a meeting between Luang Pu Buddha Issara, the protest leader, and state officials failed to reach a conclusion.
The group had planned to relocate its rally site from Chaeng Watthana Road to the government complex, the monk said.
The monk yesterday met representatives of 40 state agencies to discuss the issue, but his relocation plan made slow progress because of worries a new location would cause safety issues, and the possible arrival of a pro-government group to occupy the present site.
A proposal to gather in front of Building B of the government complex was raised during the talks. Luang Pu also asked that protesters be allowed to sleep inside the building at night.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Treasury Department proposed a car park near the Golden Place convenience store, which is not far from Building B, because activities at this new site would not disturb officials working at the government complex.
However, nobody could guarantee protesters’ safety if the rally stage is set up at the car park, Luang Pu said.
The other new rally site, proposed during a meeting, is an area near CAT Telecom Plc on Chaeng Watthana Road.
The monk said he will inspect the three suggested areas and then hold fresh talks after he and his supporters finish their campaign to "return sovereign power to His Majesty the King" in Hua Hin on May 18.
Safety concerns have been high on the monk’s agenda as the Chaeng Watthana rally site has been a flashpoint for violence following the "Bangkok shutdown" campaign in mid-January.
The monk is aware the protesters’ current site has caused problems, especially traffic congestion, to people trying to reach state agencies. However, he said the site move must be carefully carried out.
Col Worawut Wutthisiri, chief of the 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion near the Chaeng Watthana rally site, said another group of rally-goers could always retake sites vacated by anti-government protesters. All sides have the right to demonstrate under the charter, he said.
A red-shirt group calling itself the People’s Radio Network for Democracy, will today gather at Laksi intersection to demand anti-government protesters reopen Chaeng Watthana Road.